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Sustainability Report 2020 Table of Contents
Message from The CEO 3
About An Post 4
Our Strategy and Purpose 5
Our Commitments – at a Glance 6
Our Reporting 7
Our Achievements – at a Glance 8
Awards, Memberships and Certifications 9
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth 10
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 17
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities 23
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production 31
SDG 13: Climate Action 36
APPENDICES 42
Appendix 1: Full Listing Of Metrics And Targets 43
Appendix 2: Stakeholder Engagement 48
Appendix 3: An Post’s Material Indicators 49
For your world
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For ‘sustainability’ read ‘quality of life’; where you see ‘carbon footprint’ think ‘a healthy island’; and for ‘climate action’ believe in the joy of future generations. That is how we view sustainability in An Post. Being human is at the core of An Post, and our horizon is stated in our purpose ‘to act for the common good: now, and for generations to come’ DAVID MCREDMOND, AN POST CEO
2 Message from the CEO
For ‘sustainability’ read ‘quality of life’; where you see ‘carbon footprint’ think ‘a healthy island’; and for ‘climate action’ believe in the joy of future generations. That is how we view sustainability in An Post. Being human is at the core of An Post, and our horizon is stated in our purpose ‘to act for the common good: now, and for generations to come.
The response of An Post’s staff to the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated, better than any report or statistic, a deep commitment to sustainable living: to look after our most vulnerable, to stand with the elderly, to unite communities in solidarity with the State, and to deliver an essential infrastructure to every home, community, town and city in our country.
Our sustainability strategy is visible every day. The big commitment to replace the biggest fleet in the country with electric vehicles can be seen on the streets of Ireland’s cities. We have made explicit the commitment to have a Post Office in every community (defined as over 500 population). And regardless of where someone lives they have a world class delivery service. Our employees are rightly proud of the community initiatives from Address Point (a secure personal address for people who are homeless) to free deliveries to and from care homes. And an understanding that cultural life is essential to sustainable living, we have extended our sponsorship of the Irish Book Awards in tandem with our passion for literacy through the National Adult Literacy Agency and the Imagination Library.
But we have much more to do to realise our vision of an Island where sustainable living can be commonplace. Green Hub is a great example of combining our commercial role, in this case selling financial services, with a commitment to sustainability by helping our customers retrofit their homes. In 2020 our carbon emissions, despite the rapid fleet replacement, actually increased due to the exceptional volumes of parcels being delivered. But we are steadfast that the commitment to be carbon neutral which we brought forward from 2050 to 2030 will be met. We also have much work to do on the circular economy: how to work with suppliers as online shopping grows exponentially to ensure less waste and lower energy usage. And if big moves and good ideas characterised the start of our sustainability journey, innovation will be the essential characteristic to increase momentum.
And finally my own commitment to Decent Work has been forged by the great employees in An Post and by their Unions. The right to a decent job with good terms and conditions is fundamental to a sustainable society. An Post will continue to fight against the excesses of the gig economy, and in contrast promote the dignity and respect of the postal profession, both for the sake of employees and customers. We will adapt to a new changing world with hybrid work policies, using the best technology, and driving efficiency in all we do. But above all to be human. That, to us, is sustainability.
For your world David McRedmond | An Post CEO
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About An Post
An Post is Ireland’s national postal operator serving 2.2 million addresses every working day and more than 1.7 million post office customers every week. We are a major commercial organisation Thin Light Regular [Current] Bold providing a wide rangeExtra of services which encompass bold postal, logistics and financial services. We provide agency services for Government departments, the National Treasury Management Agency, the National Lottery and many commercial bodies. We are one of Ireland’s largest companies, directly employing more than 9,000 employees throughout our national networks, and contracting with almost 900 postmasters. As masters of delivery, our parcel business yielded delivery of 36 million parcels in 2020.
2.2m addresses served every working day 1.7m 36m post office customers parcels delivered served every week in 2020
114 939 delivery Post Offices service units 9,000+ employees making us one of the largest Irish employers
4 OUR VISION To make sustainable living commonplace Our Strategy in Ireland and Purpose OUR STRATEGY Accelerate An Post’s THROUGH journey towards having FOR a positive environmental Irish Citizens At An Post our purpose is to Our Sta Local Communities Our Network impact, equality for all Irish Businesses act for the common good Our Partners and create everyday opportunities for Government consumers to live a and to improve the quality more sustainable life. of life in Ireland, now and for generations to come. OUR PURPOSE In order to achieve this, we are committed to To act for the common good, embedding sustainability in everything we do. to improve quality of life now and for Sustainability informs every aspect of our business, generations every single day, enabling us to deliver benefits to our to come employees, our customers and the communities we serve. We are committed to having a positive environmental and social impact, equality for all and creating everyday opportunities for consumers to live a more sustainable life.
We recognise that our operations impact every county, community, household and business in Ireland. We are one of the largest employers, maintain one of the largest fleets and have the largest retail network in the country. Therefore, we are: • leading the way in making sustainable living commonplace in Ireland • revolutionising our operations to reduce waste, source sustainably and improve efficiency • partnering with industry leaders to ignite innovation • a national champion for protecting the planet • making a positive impact on our communities and our planet. Our governance over sustainability matters is embedded within our business-as-usual model. It is a primary consideration in all of our decisions and is subject to the same standard governance policies and processes as all aspects of the business, rather than being in a separate “Corporate Social Responsibility” function or governance structure. Our Corporate Governance is discussed in detail in our Annual Report.
We recognise our stakeholders’ views about our future role in society and the economy. These, along with An Post’s own evaluation of key risks, are crucial in identifying the items that matter for our strategic direction and subsequent measurement and reporting. As such, ensuring that we provide our stakeholders with opportunities to engage with us on the topic of Sustainability has been key. We discuss our stakeholders further in Appendix 2.
5 Our Commitments – at a Glance
To put our strategy into action we have devised a number of commitments, targets and metrics which are detailed in Appendix 1. Our commitments include:
GREEN HUB Supporting 30,000 homeowners to retrofit their homes through the Green Hub by 2030
NET ZERO GENDER BALANCE CARBON Achieving gender balance Achieving net zero carbon across all management emmissions from our own grades by 2030 operations by 2030, with a 50% reduction by 2025
ELECTRIC SUSTAINABLE VEHICLES INVESTMENT €100m of capital expenditure 2,000 electric vehicles on sustainability by 2025 in our fleet by 2022 SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES A post o ce in every community of over 500 people
6 Our Reporting
We understand the importance of using sustainability frameworks in guiding how An Post identifies risks and opportunities.
Working with our stakeholders, we identified the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the key framework for creating our sustainability strategy and reporting on relevant areas for our business. This framework is also used by the European postal sector and the International Postal Corporation (IPC).
We performed a materiality assessment (as described in Appendix 3) to map the issues identified as most relevant for An Post under the five SDGs which are core to the business:
We have identified objectives and metrics against each of these SDGs. This Sustainability Report outlines our plans and monitors our progress against them. To provide transparency to our reporting, Appendix 1 includes the full list of our metrics and targets; it also indicates the likelihood of achieving these within our stated timeframe, recognising that many of our targets are ambitious.
Whilst our core focus is on these five SDGs, we remain committed to helping achieve the remaining SDGs and are aware that these goals are interconnected. In particular, we understand that, for example, making progress on climate action (SDG 13) is not possible without taking care of our employees (SDG 8); investing in sustainable infrastructure (SDG 9); supporting and being part of sustainable communities (SDG 11); and adopting a circular economy business model (SDG 12).
In 2020 An Post was re-appointed as one of 12 SDG Champions within Ireland’s SDG Champions Programme, established by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. As such, we will share our learnings and work with Government and public and private sector organisations in leading Ireland’s drive for sustainability.
2020 is also the first year we committed to theScience Based Target initiative as part of our work on net carbon zero. This Report also benchmarks our achievements against other frameworks and disclosure initiatives, and the best outcomes achieved by other public and private organisations.
DISCLOSURE INSIGHT ACTION
WE SUPPORT
7 Our Achievements – at a Glance
Launched COVID Narrowed gender Community pay gap to Focus initiatives such as our postal 1.41% in 2020 operatives checking-in (3.7% in 2019) on older and vulnerable customers
Zero emission New deliveries extended sustainable beyond Dublin to procurement city centres in policy Waterford and Kilkenny
1012 electric vehicles & Launched the 110 Green Hub electric trikes in our fleet
Ranked Zero waste 6th in Ireland to landfill for the by the Carbon 3rd consecutive year Disclosure Project
Water usage 100% renewable reduced electricity used in our buildings by 31% compared to 2019
8 Awards, Memberships and Certifications
We are proud that our sustainability reporting and initiatives have contributed to us winning a number of awards in 2020.
We strongly believe that being active members of bodies which support sustainability initiatives, as well as obtaining relevant certifications, are key to maintaining momentum and focus towards our goals. We will seek to maintain and expand these memberships, relationships and certifications every year.
AWARDS
WINNER
The Green Transport Award
Green Transport CSR Award for Company of the 2020 Company of Digital Impact award Award 2020 Address Point Year Award the Year Award at Digital awards.ie
Excellence in the Diversity and Inclusion Best Response 2020 Excellence Community Award in Award At Published 2020 Overall Excellence in to COVID – in Sustainability recognition of Address Point Accounts Awards 2020 Facilities Management Media Awards
OUR MEMBERSHIPS
WE SUPPORT
DISCLOSURE INSIGHT ACTION
OUR CERTIFICATIONS
QUALITY ISO 9001:2015 NSAI Certified
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SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
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Decent Work and Economic Growth
UN DEFINITION: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, ‘ full and productive employment and decent work for all
We are proud to be one of Ireland’s largest employers. In An Post, we promote inclusivity and ’respect, offer equality of opportunity, develop potential and attract the very best talent.
We are committed to the elimination of discrimination, the protection of human rights and the promotion of equality of opportunity. Our goal is to be a fully diverse and inclusive workplace which will be good for everyone – our people, our customers and the communities we serve.
FOCUS AREA: Provide a safe, healthy and inclusive working environment for our employees that encourages personal and professional growth. Achievements – at a Glance
Reduction since 2019 in the total lost time per 200,000 hours worked, 20% due to injuries
Percentage of senior management 35% positions held by women (33% in 2019)
Gender pay gap compared 1.41% to 3.7% in 2019
11 2020 Performance
Health and Safety
At An Post, the health and safety of our employees and customers is at the forefront of our ethos. We follow the advice of dedicated experts who ensure that we adhere to all necessary health and safety guidelines.
COVID-19 provided An Post with a number of challenges. Our priority and focus centred on our employees’ health and wellbeing and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We immediately introduced safety measures: all non-essential employees to work from home, splitting shifts in our Delivery Service Units to reduce the possibility of close contacts, and the provision of protective barriers in our Post Offices. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was immediately dispensed throughout our premises.
A reduction in our road traffic accident rate and employee injuries was also evident in 2020.
3.15 hours Total lost time injury rate Employee absenteeism due to injuries (total lost time injury rate per 200,000 hours worked) down from 3.92 hours in 2019, a reduction of 20%
1,200 employees have access to remote working
The road traffic accident rate was
0.57 per 1 million km in 2020, down from 0.60 in 2019
12 A Spotlight on Gender Equality At An Post, we are committed to positive change. We’re creating a workplace that’s inclusive, with equality and a sense of belonging for all our people at its core. We’re creating a workplace we can all be proud of.
Our goal is to be a fully diverse and inclusive workplace which will be good for everyone – our people, our customers and the communities we serve. To support this, one of our aims is to close the gender pay gap. In 2020, we published our second Gender Pay Gap Report which demonstrated that we have narrowed the pay gap from 3.7% in 2019 to 1.41%, inching us closer to achieving our goal.
FEMALE MALE
An Post Board An Post Board 33% 67%
Management Board Management Board 50% 50%
Senior Management Group Senior Management Group 35% 65%
An Post Management Group An Post Management Group 29% 71%
2020 Graduate Programme Intake 2020 Graduate Programme Intake 53% 47%
There continues to be a 50/50 gender balance on the Management Board. Our aim is to have equal representation in our intake. We have supported a gender balanced shortlist which has resulted in 57% of our recruits to the An Post Management Group over the last 12 months being female, and 43% male. This is ensuring women’s full and effective participation and is providing equal opportunities for leadership roles. There was also a 53/47 gender balance in the Graduate Employment Programme in 2020.
We have increased representation and reduced the gender pay gap but we have more work to do. We need the statutory board (Government appointments) to move from 30% female representation to also be 50/50 at Board level. The broader management group has seen a huge increase in the number of women but we still have some way to go for that group to be 50/50. The COVID pandemic has shown how quickly management practices and ways of working can change. It is vital that this new flexibility is respectful of all women and men so that they can engage fully in the workplace, real or virtual, whatever their circumstances.
13 Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
An Post’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) strategy for 2020 focused on organisational strategic change.
By strengthening internal governance and building a Diversity and Inclusion team, policy frameworks are aligning the direction of An Post’s business structures with the DEI strategic pillars of Gender, Intergenerational, Ability Spectrums, LGBTQ advocacy and Ethnicity.
In 2020, through Diversity Charter Ireland, we continued our voluntary commitment to strong diversity management, preventing discrimination and promoting equality for all.
EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES 4.6% 4.6% of our employees have disclosed a disabilitiy to of employees An Post, which exceeds the 3% employment target for with disabilities persons with disabilities as per the Disability Act 2005. This is a decrease compared to 2019 owing to a variety of factors, including employee retirement.
FLEXIBLE WORKING OPTIONS 827 An Post provides many flexible working options to promote a employees availed healthy work-life balance. Additionally, during COVID-19, we of term time leave committed to supporting employees with caring responsibilities and dependent children (while schools and childcare facilities were closed) by offering ‘special paid leave’. 827 employees also availed of ‘term time leave’ in 2020 to take extended leave during the school summer holidays.
Term time leave is a fantastic scheme which I avail of annually. As a professional working parent, this scheme greatly benefits me and my family as it allows me to spend extra time with my children during their school holidays. JACQUELINE MORAN, PROJECT MANAGER
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Our Focus on Our Employees
WELLBEING Wellbeing of our employees is at the heart of our purpose. Our ‘Working Well Together’ campaign is focused on empowering our people to feel and be their best by recognising the challenging effects of COVID-19; and engaging in conversations about mental, social, emotional, financial and physical wellness.
In collaborative efforts with our Occupational Health team, we invested in proactively promoting the support services available to our employees via the Post People app and company screensavers. We continue to reiterate our commitment to employee wellbeing through wellness initiatives and launched ‘Wellness Wednesdays’ in May 2020 to milestone ‘National Workplace Wellbeing Day’.
Our second annual Wellness Week in October 2020 was designed with virtual events to bring awareness to resilience and mental health in the workplace. We facilitated reflective sessions on Mindfulness, Tai Chi, Laughter yoga and Art therapy. Wellness Week was our opportunity to invest in our wellbeing by leaning into inclusive conversations and fostering a culture of positive wellness as we adapt and build resilience to new ways of living and working.
ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS An Post is against the excesses of the gig economy. We are committed to providing all of our employees with fulfilling, secure careers with opportunities for professional development. In 2020, we maintained our commitment to no zero-hour contracts.
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT We promote a learning environment to foster career development and believe in empowering employees at all levels to fulfil their potential through staff education, training and support schemes. Examples of developments in 2020 include: • the expansion of our Strategic Leadership Programme the launch of an Employee Education Support Scheme which pays up to • 50% of an employee’s education course fees • the continuation of our Graduate Programme These programmes enable our employees to reach their full potential by improving their skill sets, expertise and capabilities.
I started my An Post journey 14 years ago in the Dublin Mails Centre while studying for a B.SC and Ph.D in Science. An Post were very accommodating which was crucial for my busy college schedule. I worked in State Savings and Pensions before joining An Post’s 2020 Graduate Programme. Help and support from my colleagues, friends throughout this journey has made me feel at home in An Post. Jun Zhao, Data Analyst Graduate.
15 Looking Forward to 2021 and Beyond
In addition to the initiatives discussed above, the following are key areas of focus for 2021 and beyond:
Equality of Opportunity • Establish a mentoring programme for female managers. • Establish a programme for female talent acceleration. Launch an initiative with Open Doors to increase ethnicity • and disability representation. Revise disability plans to better enable us to meet the • incremental government target increase, to 6% employment for persons with disabilities by 2024.
Human Resources Introduce a new Human Resources Management System • which will support identification of talent and ensure learning and development are accessible to everyone. Introduce a remote working policy to support employees in a • post-COVID environment.
Employee Assistance Launch an employee assistance programme (EAP) which will • give our employees access to advice, information and support on areas such as mental health, financial matters and bereavement.
TM IBEC Keep Well Mark •Achieve the IBEC - Keep Well Mark in 2021
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SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
17 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
UN DEFINITION: ‘ Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation ’ An Post plays a central role in Irish economic life and society. As such we are uniquely positioned to partner with businesses, government and communities to help drive innovation that delivers sustainable, long-term growth and prosperity.
Innovation is key to solving the challenges we face in delivering on our sustainability ambitions. We operate Ireland’s largest sustainable fleet (eVehicles, eTrikes and bicycles) and manage over 200,000m2 within our property portfolio. Reaching 100% zero carbon transport requires innovation, technology and investment. Therefore, it is essential that we draw on new and developing technologies, integrate best practices and undertake strategic initiatives to achieve our sustainability goals.
FOCUS AREA: Responsible Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure through partnership. Achievements – at a Glance
Sustainability capital expenditure €21.75m since 2018
31% Reduction in water usage since 2019
A- Carbon Disclosure Project rating in 2020
18 2020 Performance
In 2020, we significantly increased our investment in sustainability, rolling out a number of new key initiatives.
Capital Expenditure In 2020, An Post increased sustainability capital expenditure by €16m, bringing spending to date up to €21.75m. This was driven by the procurement of 845 EVs and chargers.
Our previous objective was spending €100m on sustainability capital expenditure by 2022. However, due to COVID-19, we do not expect to achieve this until 2025. An Post plans to invest approximately €50m to increase the sustainable electric fleet and a further €30m for sustainability initiatives within the An Post property portfolio up to 2025.
SUSTAINABILITY CAPITAL EXPENDITURE (€m) (Cumulative) Our objectives: Spending €100 on sustainability capital expenditure by 2025
€21.75
€0.75 €5.75
A Spotlight on Water Management
In 2020 we set a new objective to reduce annual water usage by 5% per annum. In order to achieve this a new water management system was developed and large water users were identified.
Water meters were installed enabling real time monitoring of usage at these sites and identifying leaks and areas for improvement. A new vehicle washing system was also introduced, eliminating the use of chemicals and wastewater.
These two initiatives successfully reduced 52% water usage by over 80,000 m3 (31%) Annual Water compared to 2019. Savings on vehicle washing
19 Innovation
PARCEL LOCKERS In 2020 we continued to expand the An Post network of Parcel Lockers. These allow customers to collect, send or return parcels easily and conveniently from a parcel collection and delivery point within their community. The introduction of 40 new banks of lockers in 2020 along with the increased availability of lockers from 2021 will reduce carbon emissions thanks to: • customers travelling to convenient local collection points rather than our offices. • fewer journeys made by our delivery fleet.
Parcel lockers installed in 2020. 40 Our objective is to install 130 parcel locker units by 2022.
VAN RENOVATION In 2020, the volume of eCommerce our network handled grew significantly. Realising that we were not making the best use of space within our vans, we piloted a van renovation project in seven vehicles.
This involved installing transferrable and collapsible shelving kits which increased the vans’ carrying capacity by 60%. The result was fewer journeys and emissions with less fuel used and lower maintenance requirements. Following the pilot project’s success, a further 600 vans will be fitted with this kit by 2024.
Vans fit out in 2020. Impact: 7 60% increase in carrying capacity
20 Industry Collaboration
AN POST CARBON DISCLOSURE: PROJECT RANKING
Our objectives: To be Ranked in Top 5 for the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) in Ireland
6th
10th 12th
2018 2019 2020
In 2020, we increased our Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) score from B to an A-, an increase in ranking by 6 places since 2019.
This improvement was driven by investment in our electric fleet and the energy efficiency programmes in our properties, most particularly the internal lighting upgrades.
AN POST INTERNATIONAL POSTAL COMMISSION: PROJECT RANKING
Our objectives: To be Ranked in Top 5 for International Postal Commission SMMS Programme
10th 10th 12th
2018 2019 2020
In 2020, the IPC Environmental Measurement Management System (EMMS), was updated to become the Sustainability Measurement and Management System (SMMS). This resulted in An Post falling from 10th to 12th position. SMMS is a new system with many additional areas focussed on sustainability. We are working hard to improve our ranking so that it reflects the work we are doing and meets our objective to be ranked in the top 5 postal companies for sustainability.
21 Looking Forward to 2021 and Beyond
In addition to the initiatives discussed above, the following are key areas of focus for 2021 and beyond:
Optimising our Delivery Network Dynamic route optimisation identifies the most efficient • routes for delivery. By developing these, we will improve delivery solutions for our customers and reduce our carbon emissions in delivery.
Alternative Fuels Explore using hydrogen as a potential fuel alternative for • our Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) fleet. This requires innovation, technology and investment. Commence a trial of Heavy Vehicle Oil (HVO), a lower emission • fuel for our HGV fleet in 2021.
Project SENATOR Project SENATOR is an international collaboration between • An Post, Correos (Spanish Postal Service), the city of Zaragoza, Dublin City Council and An Post. This Horizon 2020 Project is funded by the European Commission and aims to develop an online platform which will manage and optimise freight collections and deliveries in Dublin city.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
23 Sustainable Cities and Communities
UN DEFINITION: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient ‘ and sustainable ’ Creating sustainable communities and cities involves far more than just introducing cycle paths and recycling bins. An Post is the cornerstone within these thriving social networks, as 99% of the Irish population lives within 10km of a post office. Knowing this, we aim to provide economic, social and environmental benefits that help develop more sustainable cities and communities.
FOCUS AREA: Make a positive difference to the communities we serve.
Achievements – at a Glance
Green Hub Launched with the objective of supporting 30,000 homeowners retrofit their homes by 2030, 30k to make them more energy efficient
500 A post office in every community of over 500 people
Every household received two free postage-paid postcards, helping friends and family stay connected
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An Post Community Focus An Post is at the centre of Irish life with 939 post offices, 114 delivery service units and 9,000 employees across the country. These teams deliver mails, packages and parcels to every home and business address and provide a Thin Light Regular [Current] Bold post office within 15km ofExtra every rural community andbold within 3km of urban customers.
Community is about reaching out with compassion, staying connected and sending love to each other. Rising to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, our priority focus was to support government, communities and businesses. Taking advantage of our unique presence within the community we ensured connectivity with a human touch through our Community Focus initiatives which included:
Care homes We delivered letters, cards and parcels to nursing and care homes for free, keeping the most vulnerable in touch with those who could not visit
State Benefit Request a Arrangements were made check in for those who could not make it to post offices to collect Our postal operatives their payments checked-in on over 900 older Our or vulnerable customers Community Focus
SME discount Keeping the elderly We provided a 25% discount and vulnerable on parcel delivery for SMEs connected to give Irish businesses a We offered free mail collection helping hand and newspaper delivery Send Love Every household received two free postcards, helping family and friends stay connected. An Post also launched a 2020 Love stamp booklet, making a €1 donation to Women’s Aid and ISPCC Childline charities on behalf of customers for the booklet.
25 A spotlight on the Green Hub
Launched in 2020, the Green Hub helps Irish citizens live a more sustainable life by providing access to advice, affordable finance and trustworthy suppliers. In particular, it offers homeowners two options for undertaking a home retrofit project:
The One-Stop-Shop provides an end to end managed service, which includes appointing a project • manager to keep things running smoothly. This covers everything from the initial home assessment, costing of work, coordination of contractors and management of the SEAI grant application process. When the retrofit is complete, the project manager handles quality assessment and submits the final sign-off and BER certification to SEAI. • The DIY is our option for customers who want to manage the project themselves. The Green Hub also offers an e-vehicle loan for customers looking to reduce their carbon footprint by upgrading to an electric or hybrid vehicle.
Our ambition is to assist 30,000 homeowners in retrofitting their homes as seamlessly as possible by 2030. In doing so, we will become Ireland’s ‘go to’ location for greener living in Ireland.
Customers can access the Green Hub online through the An Post website at anpost.com/Green-Hub or via the 900+ post offices across the country.
26 Community Initiatives
LITERACY Working in partnership with NALA, the National Adult Literacy Agency, we provide adult literacy services to encourage people who want to return to learning. By offering confidential, free resources we strive to remove stigma and offer support.
As part of the Irish Book Awards, we worked with Children’s Books Ireland on ImagineNation. This initiative saw 25 children’s authors and illustrators design a free playbook, delivered to almost 250,000 families.
We also worked with IMAGE.ie to offer Reading Room. In this, which was one of the first virtual events to enter the market, audiences were invited to join discussions with authors.
An Post’s ongoing support for family literacy also includes working with Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation and the Childhood Development Initiative, Tallaght. Through these free monthly deliveries of books are provided to more than 5,000 children from birth to age five in the Dublin 24 postal district. By the end of 2020, An Post staff had delivered more than 95,000 books to help children’s vital early learning development and preparation for school. An Post looks forward to supporting a similar initiative across Cork City in 2021.
RECYCLED BIKES As An Post’s business transforms, many of our cycling routes are being replaced with electric trikes or vans.
In 2020, as part of our contribution to the circular economy, we introduced ‘Re-Cycled’ delivery bikes. This sees the donation of bicycles from decommissioned cycle routes to frontline workers in homeless charities who can use them for their daily work.
27 ABOVE AND BEYOND Our Values In Practice (VIP) award programme rewards individuals who have gone the extra mile to live An Post’s values.
With our Heroic Intervention Award, we recognise those who go beyond their line of duty – for example, by saving the life of a fellow employee or customer.
We are proud to share the stories of both programmes’ 2020 winners here: Values in Practice.
ADDRESS POINT In 2020 we continued to expand Address Point, our practical, simple service for people who are homeless or in temporary emergency accommodation.
This generates a personal address based on the person’s choice of local post office.
Having a fixed postal address makes it far easier to arrange medical appointments, contact schools, apply for jobs and keep in touch with family and friends.
28 Diversity in the Community By providing work experience placements and paid employment to individuals with varied abilities, we have established strong relationships with our community partners. These include the Open Doors Initiative to support people from marginalised backgrounds, the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities and the Dublin South City Ability Programme.
As part of the #PurpleLights Campaign to celebrate the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the GPO lit up in purple along with other local and national, major companies, civic and educational institutions, championing the message that the inclusion of people of all abilities is at the core of sustainable development. In 2020, An Post also continued to work with the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
In 2020, for Nollaig na mBan, An Post supported the projection of images of women onto the GPO as part of Safe Ireland’s Woman and Child Campaign. In collaboration with 2020 Herstory Light Festival, photographs and a short film were projected onto the GPO, Christchurch Cathedral, a family home in Clontarf and the former Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, celebrating female recognition and equality.
In addition to our continued sponsorship of Dublin Pride, 2020 was the first year we also Sure we have some huge sponsored Cork Pride. issues and life is not easy for people with disabilities but The Transgender flag was raised it’s a great community and on over the GPO on Transgender Day this one day, let’s celebrate that. of Remembrance. Tomorrow we go back to fight the good fight on the numerous issues that affect us, housing, work, health, transport. PURPLE LIGHTS FOUNDER/ DISABILITY ACTIVIST, GARY KEARNEY
29 Looking Forward to 2021 and Beyond
In addition to the initiatives discussed above, the following are key areas of focus for 2021 and beyond:
Schools Programme Roll out a Schools Programme, with a focus on developing literacy, numeracy, financial literacy and other key life skills, such as team work.
UNEP Membership Become a UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative Member and signatory to the Principles for Responsible Banking.
Green Hub Continue our work on the Green Hub and strive to expand the range of products we sell, supporting the local green economy, and enabling citizens to live more sustainable lives.
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SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
31 Responsible Consumption and Production
UN DEFINITION: ‘ Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. ’ An Post is committed to protecting the planet’s natural resources. With this in mind, we aim to re-use or recycle material where and when possible.
As we are responsible for controlling our environmental impact, efficient and effective supply chain management is essential. For this reason, we engage with our suppliers to procure goods, services and utilities in a way that delivers value for money over their lifecycle while also protecting communities and the environment.
FOCUS AREA: Responsible Production and Consumption aims to minimise the environmental and social impacts of our products and services in our supply chain.
Achievements – at a Glance
zero Waste to landfill for the third consecutive year
11% Reduction in packaging rate since 2019
Top Achieved Top 20 suppliers audited to ensure our materials, services 20 and utilities are purchased from responsible sources
32 2020 Performance
WASTE MANAGEMENT An Post has been working to reduce waste, and for a third consecutive year, we achieved our target of sending zero waste to landfill in 2020.
Since 2019, we have reduced our packing waste by 11%. This has been achieved by decreasing the amount of packaging created, by making our products reusable, recyclable or compostable. For example, our pre-paid credit cards are bio-degradable and pre-paid posting bags and boxes are made from 11% 100% recycled material. Reduction in All An Post external bins are weighed on collection, giving accurate, site-specific, packaging rate monthly data. This allows us to monitor the amount of waste which is recycled since 2019 and how much requires further treatment.
CANTEEN WASTE In An Post’s canteens we have continued to eliminate plastic waste where possible. Doing so has helped reduce our environmental impact by saving approximately 6 tonnes of carbon per annum.
Distributors have informed us that manufacturers are in the process of investigating bio degradable alternatives to their current plastic products. 6 In implementing our Environmental Management System, we have achieved a Tonnes of primary waste recycling target greater than 76%. The remaining 24% is secondary recycled at the waste depot. The reduction in our primary recycling rate in 2020 is CO2 saved from plastic due to the changes in our business which have been brought about by COVID-19. reduction
RESTORING NATURE We have begun the process of determining how we can resolve and restore the effect we have on the environment. An Post was Ireland’s first investor in the Woodland Environment Fund. In 2019 over 20,000 trees, including oak, birch and alder, were planted in County Galway. These continue to flourish in 2020.
33 A Spotlight on Sustainable Procurement We are committed to conducting business responsibly and advocate for ‘sustainable procurement’ which is meeting our needs for goods and services by factoring criteria and requirements that relate to social progress, environmental protection and economic development. This is subject to the relevant legislation but in particular insofar as it is proportionate and relevant to the subject matter of the procurement.
We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the environment and society and are committed to ensuring efficient and sustainable procurement and use of natural resources, including energy, water and consumables.
We have developed our own guidelines for ‘green procurement’ that are aligned with our SDGs. Having achieved ISO 14001 in 2020, An Post has begun to integrate sustainable procurement into the business.
A Supplier Sustainability Questionnaire was issued to our top 29 suppliers (based on spend and risk) to assess responsible and sustainable business behaviour. This is the first stage in assessing our suppliers against our SDGs. Questionnaire sent to 29 suppliers, 100% response rate.
As we align with ISO 20400, An Post is one of the first public sector companies in Ireland to audit suppliers in relation to decent work, climate action and sustainable production and consumption.
34 Looking Forward to 2021 and Beyond
In addition to the initiatives discussed above, the following are key areas of focus for 2021 and beyond:
Waste Target the waste generated and reduce the use of • excessive packaging. Perform a review of reusable packaging used in our industry • (as part of IPC SMMS programme). Take part in a pilot project to trial solutions for reducing • and preventing canteen food waste (in line with Ireland’s National Waste Plan 2020–2025).
Circular Economy Investigate the reuse of redundant batteries from our EV fleet •to store energy created during the day for use at night.
Restoring Nature Explore the potential for land banks to be rewilded, •protected or restored to protect biodiversity, store carbon and increase resilience to climate impacts.
Sustainable Procurement Expand the assessment of our suppliers and supply chain •against our five SDGs.
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SDG 13: Climate Action
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Climate Action
UN DEFINITION: Make urgent action to combat climate ‘ change and its impacts. We have chosen ’ to bring forward An Post is acutely aware of the impacts of climate change and the urgency our net zero of climate action. That is why we cannot wait until 2050 to get to net zero carbon emissions carbon emissions from our own operations, choosing instead to bring our target from target forward to 2030. More than making commitments and creating 2050 to 2030. plans, we are delivering climate actions now, and are on track to halve our carbon emissions by 2025. We are committed to leading change in Ireland and creating a healthy environment in which our communities can thrive for generations. This is why we are signatories to the Low Carbon Pledge.
An Post operates one of Ireland’s largest vehicle fleets and has over two million square feet under management in our property portfolio. At the core of our decarbonisation strategy is the transition to a sustainable transport fleet and renewable energy.
FOCUS AREA: Decarbonise our operations, maximise resource efficiency and support Ireland’s transition to a low carbon future. Achievements – at a Glance
2020 28% Percentage of EVs in fleet 23% Carbon emission reduction since 2009
100% Renewable electricity used in buildings
37 2020 Performance How COVID-19 impacted on our 2020 emissions Since 2009 we have reduced carbon emissions by 23% against a baseline that has been measured and independently verified. However, our emissions increased slightly in 2020. This was due to the impact of COVID-19, specifically:
HEATING & VENTILATION An increase of 601 tonnes of carbon due to increased heating needs as greater ventilation was required to keep our employees and customers safe.
VEHICLES BROUGHT HOME AND ADDITIONAL PARCEL DELIVERIES An increase of 3,330 tonnes of carbon was due to: Employees being given permission to bring their vehicles home to give •them confidence in their vehicle’s cleanliness and to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Additional parcel deliveries as bricks and mortar retail networks were closed. •Although we have increased the number of EVs, diesel vehicles still make up a sizable portion of our fleet with the associated additional carbon emissions.
Carbon emissions are categorised as Scope 1 (e.g. fuel combustion, company vehicles), Scope 2 (e.g. purchased electricity) and Scope 3 (e.g. employee commuting, waste disposal etc). COVID-19 was a key factor in the 15.4% increase of An Post’s combined Scope emissions in 2020. Other factors include more emissions driven by higher delivery volumes. A detailed breakdown of the emissions can be found in Appendix 1.
The planned roll-out of additional electric vehicles, eco-driver training and stringent energy management will ensure that emissions reduce in 2021 and get back on track to achieve our carbon emission reduction ambitions.
38 Transport Fleet An Post is a pioneer in the procurement and deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in our light commercial vehicle fleet. In 2020 we increased our number of sustainable vehicles and extended emission-free deliveries to more cities across the country. At the end of 2020, sustainable vehicles made up 28% of our 4,062 strong fleet.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES Globally, An Post is a pioneer in the procurement and deployment of EVs in our light commercial vehicle fleet. Our goal is to be the postal operator with the world’s largest percentage of EVs; we are currently in the top six globally.
With over 1000 EVs purchased to date and 110 electric trikes in operation we now operate Ireland’s largest EV fleet.
Our previous objective was to purchase 750 electric vehicles by 2022. With the purchase of 843 light commercial vehicles and 3 electric rigid trucks in 2020, this was exceeded. Our new objective is to increase the number of EVs to 2,000 by 2022. We also procured 32 additional eTrikes in 2020.
EMISSION-FREE DELIVERIES In 2019 we introduced emission-free deliveries between the canals in Dublin. We have extended our emission-free deliveries to include the cities of Kilkenny and Waterford in 2020. Due to COVID-19, the planned extension of emission-free deliveries to Galway, Limerick and Cork cities will not be achieved until 2021.
FLEET EFFICIENCY In 2020 eco-driver training, the installation of telematics to monitor vehicle usage, and the continual implementation of ISO 50001 improved our transport fleet’s efficiency, despite an increase in kilometres travelled.
Eco-driver training focuses on safety, the causes of energy losses and how to improve fuel efficiency. This saved 484 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2020 and the light commercial fleet efficiency improved from 9.63L / 100km to 9.15L / 100km.
Our previous objective was to train 100% of our drivers in eco-driving by 2022. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions this will not be achieved until 2023.
39 Renewable Energy
PERCENTAGE OF BUILDINGS LIGHTING REPLACED WITH ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTS Our objectives: Replace all lighting with energy efficient lighting by 2022
64% 57% 54%
2018 2019 2020
REDUCING ELECTRICITY USAGE To contribute to our target of reducing electricity use within buildings by 40% by 2022 we have: • installed energy efficient lighting in all of our Mail Centres • upgraded energy efficiency external lighting in offices, wherever possible. ELECTRICITY SOURCED FROM RENEWABLES To limit carbon emissions within our property portfolio we have continued to ensure that 100% of electricity used in our buildings is certified by our energy provider as being from renewable sources. PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS In 2018 we trialled Photovoltaic Panels (PV) at an An Post property in Monaghan. In 2020 this produced 7,592 KWh which is 22% of the site’s electricity requirements. We hope to extend this initiative to more buildings and that PVs will produce our sites’ electricity requirements, thereby reducing our overall carbon emissions.
A Spotlight on Renewable Energy: Microgeneration
Finding innovative solutions to the challenge of energy generation and usage is critical in achieving our SDG13 goal. Our ambition is to become a significant generator of renewable energy, by installing 2MW peak of solar energy in our properties.
This will maximise the potential for microgeneration, the small-scale generation of renewable energy. It also builds upon our membership of the Limerick City Exchange Project, Ireland’s first microgeneration project. We aim to expand the project’s brief to maximise the generation of renewable electricity for use in our own premises and to supply power to local communities.
40 Looking Forward to 2021 and Beyond
In addition to the initiatives discussed above, the following are key areas of focus for 2021 and beyond:
Property Portfolio Convert our LPG heating systems to Bio LPG, saving • approximately 180 tonnes of carbon per year. • Explore the potential of smart energy management systems. Begin the process of retrofitting buildings within our property • portfolio, improving BER ratings. This includes the replacement of internal lighting with LED.
Electric Vehicle Charging Investigate EV home garaging through the installation of • charging points at employees’ homes, where the installation of chargers is not feasible at An Post premises or if space is constrained. Develop an improved charging system to maximise use of • night-time charging rates thereby cutting costs.
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Develop a programme in 2021 to ensure delivery of our • SBTi requirements. We have chosen to align with the more ambitious 1.5°C targets.
Transport Fleet Extend our emission-free deliveries to the cities of Cork, •Galway and Limerick as well as other urban areas. •Increase the number of EVs in our fleet to 2000 by 2022.
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Appendices
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Appendix 1 Full Listing Of Metrics And Targets How we track our progress We have identified objectives and metrics to monitor our progress in relation to each of the five SDGs to which we are committed. To ensure transparency in our reporting, we have also included an indicator as to our current assessment of the likelihood of achieving the objective within the stated timeframe. This is to acknowledge the fact that many of our targets are ambitious in nature.
Meets Expectations
Exceeds Expectations
Below Expectations
We have added some new metrics in 2020. No metrics have been removed since we reported in 2019. Some metrics from 2019 have been amended but this has not resulted in any restatement of prior year numbers. Where amendments have been made, the reasons are discussed in the Notes below the table.
SDG Objective KPI Performance Performance Performance Our Progress 2018 2019 2020
SDG 8: No zero hour Number of Zero 0 0 0 Decent Work contracts Hour Contracts and Economic within An Post Growth Reduce Total Lost Time 5.06 hrs 3.92 hrs 3.15 hrs employee Injury Rate (per absenteeism 200,000 hours due to injuries worked) year on year
Reduce road Road traffic 0.6 accidents / 0.602 0.566 traffic accident accident Rate Million Km accidents / accidents/ rate year on (Rate per Million Km Million KM yearN1 Million KM)
Strive for % of sites with 100% 100% 100% OHSAS 18001 OHSAS 18001 certification at certification all An Post sites
Increase the % of 73% Male / 27% 67% Male / 33% 65% Male / 35% proportion management Female Female Female of women positions in senior held by management women positions year on yearN2
Reduce the Year on year n/a 3.7% 1.41% mean gender pay gap reduction
Maintain % Disabled 5.20% 5.80% 4.6% minimum Employees 5% disabled representation in workforce
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Appendix 1 Full Listing Of Metrics And Targets
SDG Objective KPI Performance Performance Performance Our Progress 2018 2019 2020
SDG 9: An Post have Sustainability €750,000 €5,000,000 € 16.000,000 Industry, committed capital Innovation and to spending expenditure Infrastructure €100m on each year sustainability capital expenditure by 2025N3
An Post to An Post 10th 10th 12th be ranked International in Top 5 for Postal International Commission Postal SMMS Commission programme SMMS ranking programmeN4
An Post to be An Post Carbon 10th 12th 6th ranked in Top 5 Disclosure for the Carbon Project Disclosure Ranking Project (CDP) in Ireland
SDG 11: In rural areas 95% of rural 95% Achieved 95% Achieved 95% Achieved Sustainable 95% of the population Cities and population will within 15km of Communities be within 15km at least one of at least one Post Office Post Office
In urban areas 95% of urban 95% Achieved 95% Achieved 95% Achieved 95% of the population population will within 3km of be within 3km at least one of at least one Post Office Post Office
Offshore Offshore 100% (8 100% (8 100% (8 islands will islands % Offshore Island Offshore Island Offshore Island retain their retention of Post Offices) Post Offices) Post Offices) Post Offices their Post Office
A post office % of 100% 100% 100% in every communities of community over 500 with of over 500 people. a post office
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Appendix 1 Full Listing Of Metrics And Targets
SDG Objective KPI Performance Performance Performance Our Progress 2018 2019 2020
SDG 12: Zero waste to Primary 85.50% 83.50% 76% Responsible landfill by 2020 Recycling Rate Consumption and Production Secondary 14.50% 16.50% 24% Recycling Rate
Reduce water % reduction in An Post are working to put in 31% reduction usage 5% water usage place a programme to reduce (80,000+ m3) annually water usage compared to 2019
Reduce the % reduction of n/a 18% 11% packaging material waste that An Post to market place on the Irish market by 5% per annum
Achieve and Has An Post No Yes Yes maintain ISO achieved ISO 14000 14000
Incorporate Number of An Post are working to put in 29 Suppliers an auditing suppliers place a programme of auditing Audited programme audited our top 20 suppliers for 2020 of our top 20 reporting. suppliers Ensure % of materials An Post are working to ensure a Not Achieved. materials are purchased from process is in place to monitor this Monitoring purchased from responsible for 2020 reporting. system responsible sources implemented in sources, e.g. 2020 for future 100% of paper reporting. FSC certified
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Appendix 1 Full Listing Of Metrics And Targets
SDG Objective KPI Performance Performance Performance Our Progress 2018 2019 2020
SDG 13: Reduce carbon Total Carbon 26,383 CO2e 25,459 CO2e 29,426 CO2e Climate emissions by Emissions (-3.5%) (+15.4%) Action 50% by 2025 (Scope 1 and N5 from 2009 Scope 2) baseline and to Total Energy 121,136,935 kWh 120,140,280 137,289,324 net zero from kWh Used kWh (-0.8%) kWh (+14.2%) own operations Emissions 190 tonnes 205 tonnes 246 tonnes by 2030 from road (+7.8%) (+20%) transport (Tons of NOx, SOx, particulate matter) Achieve Scope 3 An Post are actively working 4,796 tonnes calculation Emissions for towards Scope 3 emissions and reporting 1) An Post calculation and reporting of Scope 3 2) An Post emissions for Service An Post by ProvidersN6 2020 and for An Post service providers by 2021 Reduce Electricity 17,323,658 kWh 16,539,340 kWh 16,422,164 kWh electricity used within (-4.5%) (-5.2%) use within buildings buildings by 40% by 2022 from 2009 baseline Renewable 100% 100% 100% Electricity Used in Buildings Replace all % of 54% of 57% of 64% of lighting with programme buildings buildings buildings energy efficient completeN7 lighting lighting lighting lighting by replaced with replaced with replaced with 2022 energy efficient energy efficient energy efficient lights lights lights. 2000 electric Total number 11 166 1012 vehicles by of electric 2022N8 vehicles 150 electric Total number 0 78 110 trikes by 2022 of electric trikes Train 100% % of drivers 0% 10.2% 32% of Drivers in trained in Eco eco-driving by Driving 2023N9 All city centre % deliveries by 0 / 6 Cities 1 / 6 Cities 3 / 6 Cities. deliveries in electric vehicle Cork, Galway, in selected Kilkenny, cities Limerick and Waterford to be by electric vehicle by end of 2020N10
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Appendix 1 Full Listing Of Metrics And Targets
Notes
N1 We have amended the metric for the reduction of road traffic accident rates year on year from ‘accidents per 10,000 km’ to ‘accidents per 1million km’ to align with our safety reporting standards. This does not result in any restatement of prior year numbers.
N2 We have amended the objective for the ‘increase the proportion of women in management positions year on year’ to ‘Increase the proportion of women in senior management positions year on year’ to align with the description of metrics in the An Post Gender Pay Gap Report. This does not result in any restatement of prior year numbers.
N3 We have amended the objective for ‘spending €100m on sustainability capital expenditure by 2022’ to ‘spending €100m on sustainability capital expenditure by 2025’. This is due to COVID-19. This does not result in any restatement of prior year numbers.
N4 We have amended this objective to reflect the fact that during 2020, EMMS changed to SMMS. As part of that change, a broader range of factors was taken into consideration, which stretched beyond the original EMMS focus on climate change. This does not result in any restatement of prior year numbers.
N5 Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources 1 (e.g. fuel combustion, company vehicles). Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from purchased utilities (e.g. purchased electricity).
N6 Scope 3 emissions include all sources not within an organisation’s scope 1 and 2 boundary (e.g. employee commuting, waste disposal etc).
N7 We have amended the metric for upgrades to energy efficient lighting. It previously stated ‘% of buildings with lighting replaced’, but a more accurate description is ‘% of programme complete’. We have done this because some sites have partial upgrades and therefore a description of it as the percentage of programme completed better reflects the work that has been done. This does not result in any restatement of prior year numbers.
N8 We have amended the objective to purchase 750 electric vehicles by 2022. With the purchase of 843 light commercial vehicles and 3 electric rigid trucks in 2020 exceeding this original objective, our new objective is to increase the number of EVs to 2,000 by 2022.
N9 We have amended the objective for eco-driving. It previously stated that 100% of our drivers would be trained in eco-driving by 2022. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions this will not be achieved until 2023.
N10 Due to COVID-19, the planned extension of emission-free deliveries to Galway, Limerick and Cork cities will not be achieved until 2021.
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Appendix 2 Stakeholder Engagement
An Post is at the heart of Irish communities, as well as being one of the largest employers in the state. Our stakeholders are varied and we recognise that their views about our future role in society and the economy are key. Ensuring that we provide them with opportunities to engage with us on the topic of Sustainability is a priority for us. Government Sta Suppliers Representatives This is built into all of our stakeholder interactions as we believe Sustainability must be fully embedded within every aspect of the Irish Citizens business and not treated as a separate topic.
The following are examples of the interactions we have had with stakeholders during 2020:
GOVERNMENT Employees Industry bodies/ Customers collaboration We have interacted with Government as we look to support them on the creation and achievement of Ireland’s targets as detailed in the: • Carbon Action Plan 2019 • Carbon Action Plan 2021 • A Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy - Ireland’s National Waste Policy 2020-2025 • The Programme for Government • Project Ireland 2040.
EMPLOYEES Our employees don’t just deliver the post, they deliver innovation and show that sustainability is possible. Our customers see An Post employees driving EVs and providing access to finance for home energy upgrades. Our employees are the best messengers for our commitment to sustainability. Our employee news app, Post People, plays an essential role in giving An Post’s employees a voice in developing and executing our sustainability strategy. It also shares news of its initiatives and encourages employee support. Briefings and discussions with management and staff representatives also play a vital role in this process.
CITIZENS We are helping Irish citizens to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. Through the Green Hub we are providing them with the information, the inspiration and the tools to live more sustainable lives. We seek input from customers on our various initiatives and our overall sustainability agenda, through targeted surveys and market research.
SUPPLIERS We are auditing our suppliers to make sure that they uphold our values in relation to decent work, climate action, sustainable production and consumption. It is essential that suppliers understand our sustainability goals and actively support us in achieving these now and for generations to come.
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Appendix 3 An Post’s Material Indicators
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT OF OUR MATERIAL ISSUES In addition to considering the SDGs identified by the International Postal Corporation (IPC) as most relevant for the postal sector, we consistently engage in dialogue with our stakeholders (listed in Appendix 2) to understand their views, worries and expectations. Combining these with An Post’s own evaluation of key risks was crucial in identifying a list of potential areas of focus for 2020 and beyond.
We then plotted the areas of interest to stakeholders against our assessed risk to An Post to gain insight into the overall materiality of the areas to An Post. By reconciling the points in the top right quadrant with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, we were able to identify the core SDGs we should focus on. Reassuringly, this exercise confirmed that the SDGs identified by IPC are also those which are most relevant to An Post. At the same time, it must be emphasised that An Post remains committed to advancing all 17 UN SDGs.
Materiality Approach Considerations
Air Climate Pollution Change Health Employee & Safety Diversity Human Rights Sustainable Responsible Communities Production Transparency & Disclosure
Employee Engagement
Mail Security Learning & Development
Relevance to Stakeholders Water Usage Waste Management & Recycling
Risk to An Post
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